Teach me how to crab

Need some tips on catching bluecrab. Going to take my dad and brother out and try n folly tommorow by the rocks with baskets because idk where else to try. Ive seen hundreds of crabs near the rocks when the tides going down and have kept several keepers. Ive been just using my rod holder to pin them down and pick them up. Any advice on what basket to use or bait would be great thanks.

The fishing dock at james island park is great for crabbing.

Ya know, it must be nice living in Neverneverland. Remind me to come visit you, when I need a break from reality.

The closer you are to the ocean - the more female crabs. The big male crabs will be where the water is less salty. Go by a seafood dealer and get some fish heads . A string with a weight and tie on a fish head and use a crab net. Only keep crabs that are 5" from point to point. keep them in an empty bucket - not in water. If you don’t get your fingers pinched a few times - your doing something wrong. Its the little ones that really hurt!

What natureboy said…

  • tie a fish head or fish (some people use chicken necks) to a string (add a weight if needed to keep on bottom)
  • toss the head out and wait a minute or two
  • give a little pull and you’ll feel resistance when a crab’s holding it
  • pull him in slowly 'til you can see him
  • scoop him quickly with a net
  • repeat until your bucket’s full

5" point-to-point is the minimum size to keep
As stated above, keep them in bucket. Occasionally toss some water on them so they’re cool and moist. If staying out all day, I’ll put a wet towel over the top, some people wet newspapers and lay over them. They just need to be cool and not dried out, but can breath out of water just fine.

Important thing to remember: if you’re gonna cook and eat them, only cook live ones. If they die on the way home, toss them out or pay the price next day.

id get a metal basket just bc its they cant grab on as easy and they never wana let go of the string

Evant T.

quote:
Originally posted by SteelEvan

id get a metal basket just bc its they cant grab on as easy and they never wana let go of the string

Evant T.


Pro-tip right there,I would make mine with tig rod and chicken wire with a long push broom handle.Got tired of getting them untangled out of a regular net.

Ended up picking up 2 metal crab baskets and a crab net with a habdle. Caught about 20 in the rocks with the net and none with the beskets.